Shag rug cleaning tool for use with vacuum cleaners

ABSTRACT

A tool for use with a canister-type vacuum cleaner wherein a wand is provided at one end with a suction dirt pick up tool and is connected through suitable flexible tubing to the suction means of the canister wherein the picked up dirt is deposited in the vacuum cleaning operation. The pick up tool is adapted for use in cleaning high pile material such as shag rugs and defines a rake structure having a plurality of hollow teeth for improved cleaning of the rug pile.

United States Patent 1 Johnson et a1.

SHAG RUG CLEANING TOOL FOR USE WITH VACUUM CLEANERS Inventors: Robert E. Johnson; Donald F.

Swanson, both of St. Paul; George A.

Westergren, White Bear Lake, all of Minn.

Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Michv Filed: Sept. 28, 1971 Appl. No.: 184,525

US. Cl. 15/397 Int. Cl A471 9/06 Field of Search 15/363, 393, 396,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1942 Smith 15/397 X June 19, 1973 2,555,941 6/1951 Snowman 15/397 1,853,226 4/1932 Rapids 3,611,473 10/1971 Johnson 15/402 X Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant ExaminerC. K. Moore Attorney-James S. Nettleton, Thomas E. Turcotte, Donald W. Thomas et a1.

A tool for use with a canister-type vacuum cleaner wherein a wand is provided at one end with a suction dirt pick up tool and is connected through suitable flexible tubing to the suction means of the canister wherein the picked up dirt is deposited in the vacuum cleaning operation. The pick up tool is adapted for use in cleaning high pile material such as shag rugs and defines a rake structure having a plurality of hollow teeth for improved cleaning of the rug pile.

ABSTRACT 11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and in particular to dirt pick up tools for use with canister-type vacuum cleaners.

2. Description of the Prior Art In one conventional form of vacuum cleaner, a canister is provided with means for inducing suction through a hose connected to the handle end of a wand having on its lower end pick up means for picking up dirt from carpeting and the like, and passing the picked up dirt by means of the suction pressure into a filter bag provided in the canister. The dirt pick up tool is adapted to be moved over the surface of the carpet with the suction applied thereto drawing the dirt from the carpet through an inlet in the underside of the tool. A problem arises in the use of the conventional pick up tools for cleaning high pile shag rugs in that the suction inlet at the bottom of the tool does not effectively clean upper portions of the pile. and also the required push force is extreme. One solution to the problem has been to provide means in thetool for elevating the suction inlet when the tool is used with such high pile material so that the upper portions of the pile will be effectively cleaned. However when the tool is so arranged, the lower portions of the pile are not effectively cleaned as they are spaced substantially below the suction inlet.

Thus with such means it is necessary to clean the car- I peting by repeated operations, one with the tool set to clean the lower portion of the carpeting pile and one with the tool set to clean'the upper portion of the carpeting pile. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved tool for use with a vacuum cleaner for suction cleaning of high pile material such as shag rugs. More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of such a tool defining a rake provided with a plurality of depending teeth or tines, adapted to comb the pile of the carpet. Each of the tines define a suction passage inlet having a downwardly directed bottom end. The front surface of the-tine is curved downwardly rearwardly to the bottom end of the inlet passage and a turned portion of the inlet passage is provided opening forwardly through the curved front surface. Thus the tine is adapted to apply suction not only to the carpeting at the bottom of the tine, but also to upper portions of the carpet pile spaced above the bottom end of the tine to provide in a single passage, cleaning of the entire pile of the rug. In addition, the required push force is materially reduced because of the curvedfront surface of the tines. I

At the same time, the use of the rake tines provides a combing action tending to loosen pile and facilitate cleaning thereof. Upon completion of the improved cleaning operation, the pile is left in a loose, aesthetically pleasing condition.

The improved cleaning functioning of the tool of the present invention is provided in an extremely simple and economical manner by forming the rake as a molded plastic element adapted to be releasably secured to the body portion of the tool for facilitated installation and removal as desired. Each of the tine inlet passages opens freely to the suction chamber and provides improved cleaning of the carpeting over the entire lateral extend of the tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner tool embodying the invention as used in cleaning a high pile shag rug material;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the tool shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the rake portion of the tool;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation with the body of the tool shown in vertical section;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section thereof taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a tool generally designated 10 is shown for use with a canister-type vacuum cleaner (not shown) for suction cleaning of a high pile material such as shag rug 11. The tool comprises an attachment adapted to be mounted on the lower end of a hollow wand 12 and includes a body portion 13 connected to the tubular wand by a swivel connector 14 of conventional construction. As shown in .FIG. 6, body portion 13 defines a downwardly opening chamber 15 commua in FIGS. 2 and 7, the rake 17 includes an upper portion 18 adapted to mate with the body portion 13 to define therewith a suction chamber 19. As further shown in FIG. 7, the body portion 13 includes longitudinally downwardly opening recesses 20 and 21 defining intumed latch shoulders 22 and 23 respectively at the front and back of the body portion 13. Rake 17 includes a front outturned flange or catch portion 24 and a rear outturned flange, or catch portion 25 releasably engaged by shoulders 22 and 23. respectively or removably attaching the rake to the body portion.

The rake further defines a pair of longitudinally extending upwardly projecting ribs 26 and 27 disposed inwardly of complementary downwardly projecting ribs 28 and 29 of body 13. Ribs 28 and 29 are sufficiently bracket 31 may further be secured to the mid portion of the rake such as by screw 32 and includes upturned side flanges 33 for frictionally embracing the front and rear of the body 13 outwardly of the shoulders 22 and 23 for further improved retention of the rake on the body.

Rake 17 defines a plurality of depending tines 34 adapted to provide a combing action as the rake is moved through the rug pile as shown in FIG. 1. Each tine defines a suction passage inlet 35 having a vertical portion 36 opening upwardly through an upper inlet 27 to suction chamber 19 and opening downwardly through a bottom end 38 to the bottom 39 of the tine. The suction passages 35 are L-shaped and further define a forwardly opening end 40 extending upwardly to substantially above the tine bottom 39 and extending downwardly to the passage bottom end 38 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Front surface 41 of the tine is downwardly rearwardly curved, with a relatively large radius, into the bottom portion 39 of the tine for facilitated movement of the tines through the carpeting pile thereby to facilitate combing of the pile in a fluffing action so as to expose the full length of the pile tufts for facilitated cleaning thereof by the vacuum suction action. As the forward opening portion 40 of the suction inlet passage 35 extends to substantially above the bottom 39 of the tine, the inlet passage is arranged to clean substantially the entire height of the pile including the top of the pile adjacent the top of portion 40 and the bottom of the pile adjacent the bottom end 38 of the suction passage. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the vertical section 36 of the suction passage inlet is spaced approx imately mid way between the front and back of the tine to open into suction chamber 19 intermediate the latching shoulders 22 and 23.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the suction passages 35 are shown to extend substantially the full width of the tine 34. The upper surface 42 of the suction passage inlet may be arcuate as shown in FIG. 5. The sides 43 of 40 the tines may be flat for facilitated movement of the tines through the carpeting pile. For further facilitated movement of the tines through the carpet pile, the tines are preferably spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness thereof as further shown in FIG. 5. The bottom surface 39 of the tine, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, may be flat and extends rearwardly of the suction passage inlet 38 to define a slide surface for facilitated movement of the rake over the carpet.

Thus upon installation of the rake portion 17 in tool 10, the user may effect a facilitated cleaning of relatively high pile material such as shag rugs by a simple movement of the rake through the pile in a combing movement. The hollow tines provide facilitated improved cleaning of the entire pile length in a single cleaning operation so that both deep cleaning and surface cleaning of the pile is efficiently effected. The rake structure is extremely simple and economical of construction, being formed as a one-piece unit as a plastic molding, while yet providing the improved high pile cleaning functioning as discussed above.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed as defined as follows:

1. A tool for use with a vacuum cleaner for suction cleaning of high pile material such as shag rugs, comprising: a body defining a chamber portion adapted to be connected to the suction means of the vacuum cleaner; and a rake having an upper portion adapted to sealingly mate with said body to define therewith a suction chamber, and a lower portion defining a plurality of depending hollow tines adapted to comb the pile of a carpet to be vacuum cleaned, said tines defining a suction passage inlet opening to said suction chamber and having a downwardly directed bottom end and a downwardly and rearwardly extending front surface, each said suction passage inlet including a rear portion opening downwardly through said bottom end for applying suction to lower portions of the carpet pile and a front portion contiguous to said tine bottom end opening forwardly through said front surface for concurrently applying suction to upper portions of the car pet pile spaced above the bottom end of the suction passage as the rake is moved through the pile in a combing, suction cleaning movement.

2. A tool for use with a vacuum cleaner for suction cleaning of high pile material such as shag rugs, comprising: a body defining a chamber portion adapted to be connected to the suction means of the vacuum cleaner; and a rake having an upper portion adapted to sealingly mate with said body to define therewith a suction chamber, and a lower portion defining a plurality of depending hollow tines adapted to comb the pile of a carpet to be vacuum cleaned, said tines defining a suction passage inlet opening to said suction chamber and having a downwardly directed bottom end and a downwardly and rearwardly extending front surface, each said suction passage inlet including a portion opening forwardly through said front surface for concurrently applying suction to upper portions of the carpet pile spaced above the bottom end of the suction passage as the rake is moved through the pile in a combing, suction cleaning movement, said suction passage inlet comprising an L-shaped passage with said forwardly opening portions extending vertically downwardly to said bottom end.

3. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said tines are elongated rearwardly from said first surface, and said suction passage inlets include a vertical portion opening to said suction chamber located approximately midway between the front and back of the tines.

4. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said inlet openings extend substantially the full width of the tines.

5. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said tines have flat sides.

6. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said tines are spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness thereof.

7. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein the top of said forwardly opening portion of each suction passage inlet is arcuate.

8. A tool for use with a vacuum cleaner for suction cleaning of high pile material such as shag rugs, comprising: a body defining a chamber portion adapted to be connected to the suction means of the vacuum cleaner; and a rake having an upper portion adapted to sealingly mate with said body to define therewith a suction chamber, and a lower portion defining a plurality of depending hollow tines adapted to comb the pile of a carpet to be vacuum cleaned, said tines defining a suction passage inlet opening to said suction chamber and having a downwardly directed bottom end and a downwardly and rearwardly extending front surface, each said suction passage inlet including a portion opening forwardly through said front surface for concurrently applying suction to upper portions of the carpet pile spaced above the bottom end of the suction passage as the rake is moved through the pile in a combing, suction cleaning movement, the bottom end of each tine being flat and extending rearwardly of the suction passage inlet to define a slide surface of the rake.

9. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim ll wherein said front surface is downwardly rearwardly curved. 

1. A tool for use with a vacuum cleaner for suction cleaning of high pile material such as shag rugs, comprising: a body defining a chamber portion adapted to be connected to the suction means of the vacuum cleaner; and a rake having an upper portion adapted to sealingly mate with said body to define therewith a suction chamber, and a lower portion defining a plurality of depending hollow tines adapted to comb the pile of a carpet to be vacuum cleaned, said tines defining a suction passage inlet opening to said suction chamber and having a downwardly directed bottom end and a downwardly and rearwardly extending front surface, each said suction passage inlet including a rear portion opening downwardly through said bottom end for applying suction to lower portions of the carpet pile and a front portion contiguous to said tine bottom end opening forwardly through said front surface for concurrently applying suction to upper portions of the carpet pile spaced above the bottom end of the suction passage as the rake is moved through the pile in a combing, suction cleaning movement.
 2. A tool for use with a vacuum cleaner for suction cleaninG of high pile material such as shag rugs, comprising: a body defining a chamber portion adapted to be connected to the suction means of the vacuum cleaner; and a rake having an upper portion adapted to sealingly mate with said body to define therewith a suction chamber, and a lower portion defining a plurality of depending hollow tines adapted to comb the pile of a carpet to be vacuum cleaned, said tines defining a suction passage inlet opening to said suction chamber and having a downwardly directed bottom end and a downwardly and rearwardly extending front surface, each said suction passage inlet including a portion opening forwardly through said front surface for concurrently applying suction to upper portions of the carpet pile spaced above the bottom end of the suction passage as the rake is moved through the pile in a combing, suction cleaning movement, said suction passage inlet comprising an L-shaped passage with said forwardly opening portions extending vertically downwardly to said bottom end.
 3. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said tines are elongated rearwardly from said first surface, and said suction passage inlets include a vertical portion opening to said suction chamber located approximately midway between the front and back of the tines.
 4. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said inlet openings extend substantially the full width of the tines.
 5. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said tines have flat sides.
 6. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said tines are spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness thereof.
 7. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein the top of said forwardly opening portion of each suction passage inlet is arcuate.
 8. A tool for use with a vacuum cleaner for suction cleaning of high pile material such as shag rugs, comprising: a body defining a chamber portion adapted to be connected to the suction means of the vacuum cleaner; and a rake having an upper portion adapted to sealingly mate with said body to define therewith a suction chamber, and a lower portion defining a plurality of depending hollow tines adapted to comb the pile of a carpet to be vacuum cleaned, said tines defining a suction passage inlet opening to said suction chamber and having a downwardly directed bottom end and a downwardly and rearwardly extending front surface, each said suction passage inlet including a portion opening forwardly through said front surface for concurrently applying suction to upper portions of the carpet pile spaced above the bottom end of the suction passage as the rake is moved through the pile in a combing, suction cleaning movement, the bottom end of each tine being flat and extending rearwardly of the suction passage inlet to define a slide surface of the rake.
 9. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said body and upper portion of the rake define cooperating spring latch means disposed rearwardly and forwardly of the suction passage inlets for releasably securing the said rake to the tool body for facilitated selection, installation and removal as desired.
 10. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 9 wherein said suction passage inlets define an upper end opening to said vacuum chamber intermediate the rearward and forward spring latch means portions.
 11. The vacuum cleaner tool of claim 1 wherein said front surface is downwardly rearwardly curved. 